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As 2012 comes to a close, UCAOA would like to wish its members, partners and other industry professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year for the industry, we would like to provide the readers of Urgent Care Access a look at the most accessed articles from 2012. Our regular publication will resume next Thursday, Jan. 3.

The typical freestanding ER site is a high-traffic, high-visibility retail strip serving well-established, high-income, high-density residential areas. And the experience? Ayers asserts that it's more reminiscent of a "day spa" than a cold, sterile hospital ED. Click here to read the article and learn more about freestanding ERs — and for tips on how to counter this competitive threat!

Urgent care visits to soar due to Affordable Care ActBenefitsProShareJuly 12: Urgent care visits will likely see a considerable boost due to the Supreme Court ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "Although urgent care isn't specifically mentioned anywhere in the legislation, the open access that all urgent care centers have should make them a natural entry point for the newly insured — especially in areas where many primary care practices aren't accepting new patients," says Lou Ellen Horwitz, executive director of the Urgent Care Association of America.More

What Urgent Care Operators Need to Know About Employee Break RoomsUCAOAShareMay 10: In his May article, Alan Ayers, UCAOA's Practice Management Content Advisor, makes a compelling case for why the break room could be considered the most important room in your entire center ... and offers practical suggestions on how to manage it. According to Ayers, having a well-appointed break room is not only a way of showing employees that the business truly cares about them; it can also help build camaraderie and morale and help your center comply with federal and state employment regulations. Click here to read more!

Management Implications of Tattoos, Piercings, and Other 'Body Art'UCAOAShareMarch 8: In his March article, Alan Ayers, UCAOA's Practice Management Content Advisor, provides the urgent care operator with a legal and operational perspective to devise and implement a fitting "body art" human resources policy. Once considered taboo, the popularity of "body art" has soared in recent years. For urgent care centers that rely on a pool of young, entry-level hires for front-office and medical assisting positions, appearance standards related to body art will eventually be encountered.

Click here to read about legal implications, tips for drafting the policy and more!

3 Secrets to Becoming a Great LeaderUCAOAShareAug. 30:This month's Perspectives article, authored by DeVry Anderson, MD, considers principles of leadership excellence described by authors such as John Maxwell, Jim Collins, and Major General John Schofield, and contrasts them with well-known world leaders both past and present. Click here to read the article, and to learn three fundamental tenants that any leader can apply in order to make the transition from a good leader to a great one.

Addressing Bee StingsUCAOAShareAug. 16: This month's feature from Dr. Sean McNeeley, a UCCOP Founding Board Member, examines four types of bee sting symptoms, from common to severe. In many states, August is mating season for bees and wasps; your center may see an uptick in sting complaints! Click here for this particularly timely article.